Cost Accountant/Pricing Analyst

JOB PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The Cost Accountant / Pricing Analyst is responsible for determining pricing structures for new and existing customers, ensuring accurate cost analysis, and supporting financial decision-making related to product profitability. This position collaborates with Sales, Finance, Operations, and Supply Chain at Kagome Inc. and Kagome Foods, Inc. to develop competitive and financially sound pricing models that align with business goals.  Additionally, this role is responsible for ensuring that all stakeholders in the costing workflow respond in a timely manner to meet pricing deadlines. This position can be remote after the individual completes training and gains the knowledge necessary to produce accurate costings.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

% OF TIME JOB FUNCTIONS

1. 40% Pricing & Financial Analysis

• Develop and maintain pricing models based on cost inputs, market conditions, and profitability targets.
• Analyze cost structures, raw material expenses, labor, and overhead to determine accurate product pricing.
• Support Sales in pricing negotiations by providing financial insights, margin analysis, and competitive benchmarking.
• Conduct profitability assessments for new and existing customer contracts.
• Regularly review and update pricing formulas to reflect changes in costs and business conditions.
• Work closely with stakeholders to ensure timely responses in the pricing workflow, including Sales, R&D, Purchasing, and Operations.
• Identify SKUs that require quarterly cost reviews and provide updated pricing to Sales in advance of the next quarter. 

1. 40% Cost Accounting & Margin Analysis

• Maintain and update standard costs for ingredients, packaging, and production processes.
  • Update oil standard costs quarterly if cost volatility necessitates
  • Roll costs of raw materials into finished goods as necessary to ensure finished goods cost is correct.
  • Prepare raw materials costs that will be used in preparing the next year’s budget.
• Maintain and update costs that will be used in preparing standard pricing sheets for customers. Standard costs may not be applicable when generating a price for a new product. 
• Maintain and update costs used in quarterly pricing for Conagra and other customers with unique pricing structures.
  • Ensure bills of material for pricing is correct.
  • Ensure toll factored into pricing is correct.
  • Ensure any unique nuances of a customer’s price is taken into account (water, pallets, film for labels, rebates, brokerages, etc)
  • Ensure unique pricing requirements from customer’s manufacturing agreement is adhered to.
  • Work with Oil and Commodities Specialist to confirm contracted oil/commodity cost is commensurate with sales price for specific customers.
    • Review contracted receipts to ensure complete receipt of contracts
    • Review customer orders and shipments related to contracts to ensure proper relationship of commodity received to finished goods cases ordered and shipped.
  • Analyze production order reports to determine actual:
    • Waste factors of raw materials and update bills of material as necessary so excessive waste is factored into cost of product.
    • Throughput of product in production runs so proper throughput standard is used in computing labor and overhead components of standard cost.
    • Direct labor associated with production

Update routings with revised throughput or labor changes as necessary

• Identify and analyze cost variances and provide recommendations to improve cost efficiency.
• Prepare and present cost analysis reports to senior management.
• Work with Operations and Supply Chain to optimize inventory cost management and material pricing.
• Ensure new Item IDs are created for new ingredients and packaging (coordinating with R&D, Production Vision, and JustFood).
• Support Accounts Payable in setting up new suppliers in JustFood after receiving credit information. 

1. 20% Collaboration & Compliance

• Work closely with Sales, Finance, and Operations to align pricing strategies with company objectives.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, company accounting policies, and financial reporting standards.
• Assist with annual budgeting and forecasting related to pricing and cost structures.
• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation related to cost accounting and pricing.
• Potentially assist Kagome Foods, Inc. (KFI) as an Expeditor, working with suppliers to ensure all materials are available for production on time.
• Assist in semiannual physical inventory

            __________________________

            TOTAL          100%

POSITION DIMENSIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS 

Internal Contacts:

   Sales, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, and Production teams 

External Contacts:

Customers, vendors, suppliers, and auditors

Education Level and Focus:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field.

Preferred, CPA, CMA, or other relevant financial certification.

Years and Type of Related Experience Required:

2-4 years in cost accounting, pricing analysis, or financial planning in a manufacturing or food industry environment. Strong understanding of standard costing, cost modeling, and margin analysis. Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., JustFoods, SAP, or similar) and Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, financial modeling).

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

Uphold Kagome's Values:

Employee works well with others as a team and treats others with respect. Conducts self in a professional manner and exhibits the highest level of integrity. Maintains a positive attitude through good working relationships with our customers, visitors, and co-workers that emphasizes our commitment to good customer service. 

Attendance:

Reliability and acceptable attendance are required. It is critical to be punctual and arrive on time for work and for meetings (if applicable).    

Productivity:

Must consistently fulfill job responsibilities, knowing how to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively. If authorized to work remotely, must maintain the same levels of productivity and communication as they would in the office. 

Employee Retention:

Build a culture employees and/or co-workers want to be a part of. Be helpful to others and work as a team toward company goals. Participate in an exceptional onboarding experience for new hires and ensure they have the necessary tools to succeed in their roles by welcoming and assisting them. 

Interpersonal and Communication:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills to present financial insights.

Ability to work cross-functionally and support pricing discussions with Sales and Finance.

Technical and Analytical:

Strong financial modeling and cost analysis abilities.

Ability to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve pricing accuracy.

Proficiency in data analysis, forecasting, and variance reporting.

Administration and Operations:

            Organize job responsibilities to complete work on a timely basis.

Physical Demands:

Ability to sit and work in front of a computer terminal for long periods (may sit for approx. 7 hours with 2 hour intervals being in a stationary sitting position).  May lift up to 25 lbs.

Work Environment:

Office environment with low to moderate noise levels.  May be required to go in   to warehouse area with high noise levels, wet floors, forklift and pedestrian     traffic, extreme hot/cold climate. This is a Safety Sensitive position. 

Special Equipment Used:

Computer with emphasis on spreadsheet skills, copier, fax machine, 10-key, and typewriter

Special Requirements:

Willing to work overtime and weekends as requested.